2011 Streak Day 242 (Friday Sept 2nd): Looking towards the future

2011 Streak Day 242 (Friday Sept 2^nd): Walk 2 miles, Time 40min, Weather sunny and bright

I took the car to Berkhamsted and walked along the canal. I rather like it here because it feels much more a part of the town, with more communal space than at Hemel. There is more parkland and greater variety of buildings along the canal side (including 3 pubs). in the summer holidays it is the place people go

This picture is of a small area of sustainable plant in the park, next to the children’s play area. I like the idea of councils creating such plantings, especially as it runs counter to the local government tradition of formal, geometric displays of bedding plants. The flowers are usually colourful and pretty but the arrangement is very rigid.

I also like it that it is near the play area for young children. If sustainability is about anything then it about them and their future children. A neat little bit of symbolism.

2011 Streak Day 132/365: Evening in the park

2011 Streak Day 132/365: Run - 3.25 miles, Time - 30min 47sec, Weather - mellow

As a rule I like getting out in the morning as it helps my self-discipline by cutting off opportunities for procrastination. But that is only really the case when I am going to be out for an hour or more. As I am not running very far at the moment, no more than 30 minutes, it doesn't feel like an expedition, which has to be geared-up for. It just feels like popping out.

This changes my attitude and I don't wally around but go when it feels most convenient. For the last two runs this has been in the evening and very pleasant it has been.

It helps that recently the weather has been good and evenings have had a summer mellowness that brings people out, just to socialise. 

At the moment I am running around Gadebridge Park and it is full of people, sitting, playing games, strolling, walking dogs, etc,etc. The whole atmosphere feels relaxed. In my own way I am joining-in the recreation: toddling along, not pushing too hard, just keeping going, nodding a greeting to other runners.

At the moment it suits me just fine.

2011 Streak 79/365: Sunday Morning in the Park

2011 Streak 79/365:  Cycle - 19.1 miles, Time - 1hr 25min, Weather - slightly chilly, slightly misty

There is something about Sunday morning and the feeling of the world being at play. In parks you can see a whole range of recreation from a slow, gentle stroll to a lung bursting sprint during a competitive game of football.

This picture is of a couple of football games on nearby pitches but behind me was a netball tournament, a play area with young kids whooping and screeching , and further on, on an empty pitch, was someone running around it at great speed.

The man running was with is daughter (about 7), and whilst he ran his lap she ran up and down. They would meet back at a tree, where they would gulp for air and talk. Good training for both of them.

The netball match was on 4 courts, with the parents watching and waiting round the edges, reminding me of when our daughter played  badminton and we had to take her to the matches. I looked at them for a short time but realised it is game I do not understand. There was an awful lot of whistling-up of infringements.

As for the football, the match in the foreground is between fairly young boys and I thought it a little unfair that they use full sized goals. The poor goalkeepers just cannot cover them properly. When I was watching the team in green scored with a shot that would have been a fairly easy overhead catch for a taller lad but caused all sorts of problems for the poor young goalie.

Anyway, for me, standing in the park was a short interlude; a chance to directly feel the community of play. Back out on the road I passed more runners and more cyclist - although we were part of that community we were all on our own.